Disposal apparatus for crushable articles



Jan. 17, 1961 v J. MARICA 2,968,235

DI SPOSAL APPARATUS FOR CRUSHABLE ARTICLES Filed Sept. 30, 1958 I v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 r F|G.l 1:

BY. 5%.; mpemau aaw ATTORNEYS Jan. 17, 1961 J. MARlCA 2,968,235

DISPOSAL APPARATUS FOR CRUSHABLE ARTICLES Filed Sept. 50, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR J45 Afar/m BY 42...; Ziadf v 'aw ATTORNEYS Jan. 17, 1961 J. MARICA 2,968,235

DISPOSAL APPARATUS FOR CRUSHABLE ARTICLES Fiied Sept. 50, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTQR Jp/m Marz ca ATTORNEYS Jan. 17, 1961 J. MARlCA 2,968,235

7 DISPOSAL APPARATUS FOR CRUSHABLE ARTICLES Filed Sept. 50, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGJO 156 146 8 /j 144 FIG. "L 1 20 IIY V EN TOR z/Mn Ala/z ca ATTORNEYS DISPOSAL APPARATUS FOR CRUSHABLE ARTICLES John Marica, Middletown, Conn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to D. J. Alexander Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 30, 1958, Ser. No. 764,446

6 Claims. (Cl. 100-218) This invention relates to disposal means and more particularly to means operable to receive and crush used articles, especially paper cups or other containers.

With the increased use of liquid dispensing machines for coffee, tea, hot soups, etc., the problem of providing substantial disposal capacity has become increasingly important. The ordinary metal disposal units commonly in use are not satisfactory because of the rapidity with which these units fill up and the time and expense involved in keeping the units empty to receive more used cups.

One of the objects of this invention therefore is to provide a disposal unit which is capable of receiving and storing a large number of used containers while occupying a minimum amount of space and requiring a minimum amount of service time.

Another object of the invention is to provide crushing means that will reduce the volume of space normally occupied by used containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide crushing means that is actuated simultaneously with closure means provided to receive a used container.

A still further object of the invention is to provide actuating means for operating container crushing means and closure means by a simple movement of a foot treadle.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to retain a container in a chute as a previously disposed container is crushed.

A further object of the invention is to provide means that will prevent used containers from adhering to the sides of the jaws of the crushmg means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a disposal unit embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section of the disposal unit;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the operating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are vertical sectional views similar to Figure 6 illustrating the operation of the apparatus;

Fig. 9 is a plan sectional view taken on line 99 of Figure 6;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Figure 1, illustrating the open position of the closure member in dotted lines;

Fig. 11 is a side view, partly in section, illustrating the foot treadle in locked position.

Referring to the drawings, the disposal unit'includes a cabinet 10 comprising a head portion 12, a receptacle 2,968,235 Patented Jan. 17, 1961.

14, and a base portion 16. The base portion 16 is open at the bottom and includes a horizontal separator 18 and a front wall portion 20. The sides of the base por non 16 are formed by the continuation of side walls 22 of receptacle portion 14 and the rear wall of the base portion is formed by the continuation of rear wall 24 of receptacle 14. Separator 18 is attached to receptacle 14 by welding of flanges 26 to rear wall 24 and side walls 22. Front wall 20 contains a vertical slot 28 located midway therein and the rear of separator 18 contains slot 29. Receptacle 14 is a hollow container comprising vertical side walls 22 and rear wall 24. The front of receptacle 14 includes a door 30 hingedly mounted to the side walls 22 at 32. Handle 34 is provided on the door for opening and closing the door. Above the door is a vertical panel 36 welded to the side walls 22 and containing a depending flange 38 to deflect any spilled liquids from the container into the removable bin 40. Removable bin 40 may be of sheet metal and rest on separator 18 or a burlap bag may be suspended from hooks 41.

Attached to the receptacle at 42, as by screws (not illustrated), is the head portion 12.

Depending from horizontal separator 18 and secured thereto as by welding are two pairs of brackets 48 and 50. Pivotally mounted at 52 in bracket 50 is one end of treadle link 54. The other end of link 54 extends through slot 28 and is fitted with a foot treadle 56. Pivotally mounted at 58 are the ends of a pair of links 60, the other ends of links 60 support a pin 62 to which loop of cable 64 is mounted. Links 60 are pivotally mounted to link 54 at pin 66. Pin 66 is adapted to slide in slot 67.

The crushing mechanism generally referred to as 70 is supported in rectangular bracket 72 which is mounted by welding or the like to the walls of receptacle 14. Offset strap members 74 are welded to each outer side of rectangular bracket 72 near panel 36. Pivotally mounted at 76 to both strap members 74 is a U-shaped bar 78. Pivotally mounted within rectangular bracket 72 at 76 is a male crushing jaw 80 with convex crushing surfaces 81 containing grooves 82. Grooves 82 assist in preventing the crushed containers from sticking to the surface of the crushing jaw. Offset link members 84 are welded, at one end, to both sides of crushing jaw 80, the other ends of link members 84 are pivotally mounted to U-shaped bar 78 at pins 86. Pivotally mounted at 87 to rectangular bar 72 is a female crushing jaw 88 'with concave crushing surfaces 90. The upper part of crushing jaw 88 contains a flat surface 92 which is adapted to support a disposed container which will be fully explained subsequently. The convex. concave surfaces of the crushing jaws crush the cups into a semicircular shape. This has been found to be very effective in preventing the crushed sides of the cup from up arating from each other in the bin and thereby occupying undue amounts of space. Cups which are crushed by parallel flat surfaced jaws have a tendency because of the resilience of the sides of the cups to spring back into their former circular shape. Offset links 94 are welded at one end to both sides of crushing jaw 88 and are pivotally mounted to straight links 96 at pins 98. Links 96 are also pivotally mounted to U-shapedbar 78 at 100. Springs 102, which are under tension are mounted on pins 86 and 98 biasing these pivot pins to Wardeach other. Mounted to rectangular bar 72 is bracket 104 which supports pivotally mounted guide pulley 106. Mounted to U-shaped bar 78 is another,

bracket 108 to which is fixed the other end of cable 64.-

Cable 64 passes upwardly into receptacle 14 through slot 29 in separator 18. '1..- Operation of the crushing mechanism is accomplished;

by stepping on treadle 56 causing link 54 to rotate counterclockwise (see Figure 5) about pivot 52. Rotation of link 54 causes links 69 to rotate clockwise about pivot 58 causing cable 64 to move in a downward direction pulling U-shaped bar 78 dcwnwardly in a clockwise direction about pivots 76. Movement of bar 78 causes male crushing jaw 80 to rotate in a clockwise direction about pivot 76 and causes link 96 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as pivot 100 moves with U-shaped bar 78 down and to the right about pivot 76. This motion causes female crushing jaw 88 to move to the left in a counterclockwise rotation about pivot 87 against the biasing action of springs 102. Release of foot treadle 56 will cause the crushing jaws to open under the tension of springs 102.

Additional means are provided in female crushing pad 88 to assist in preventing the wet crushed cups from adhering to the surface of the crushing jaw. Figures 6-8 in conjunction with Figure 9 illustrate the operation of the kicker device. A hearing member 110 is welded to the inner surface of the female crushing jaw 88. A hole 112 through the bearing member and crushing jaw supports and guides a rod 114 to which is welded at one end a concave plate 116 conforming to the contour of the female crushing jaw. Welded to the other end of the rod is a washer or stop 118 which constrains compression spring 120. Welded to the upper end of concave plate 116 is pin 122 which fits into hole 124 and prevents the concave plate 116 from rotating. Mounted at the lower end of crushing jaw 88 is an extended stop member 126. Brackets 128 welded to bar 72 pivotally support at 130 L-shaped lever arm 132 which is weighted at 134 to assume the position shown in Figure 6. Operation of the kicker device is as follows: In Figure 6 the operator has pushed the treadle 56 down with his foot causing the crushing jaws to close and crush a cup therebetween. As the foot treadle is released female crushing jaw 88 will rotate clockwise under the biasing action of spring 102 causing rod 114 to abut against the tip 136 of weighted lever arm 132 tending to cause the lever arm to rotate clockwise. However, stop 126 will prevent the lever arm from rotating as illustrated in Figure 7 and rod 114 with attached plate 116 will move away from the surface of the female crushing jaw compressing spring 120 and releasing any crushed cup adhering to the crushing jaw. As the jaws continue to open the end of rod 114 will slip past tip 136 and washer 118 will snap up against tip 136 causing any still remaining crushed cup adhering to plate 116 to be dislodged by the impact. Continued opening of the female crushing jaw will cause washer 118 to slip past tip 136 of lever arm 132 and assume the position illustrated in Figure 8. As the jaws close upon actuation of the foot treadle, lever 132 will rotate clockwse under the force of its weighted end 134 with no interference from stop 126.

Head portion 12 contains an opening 140 defined by flanges 142. A rim member 144 is fitted therein having horizontal flange members 146 and vertical flange members 148. Attached to vertical flange members 148 at the front and back only as by welding (see Figure 6) is a chute 150 having attaching flanges 152. It will be noted from Figure that space is left on both sides of chute 150 between vertical flanges 148 to receive the vertical sides 154 of a closure member 156. Closure member 156 is of U shape having a top 158 and sides 154 which extend fully into head portion 12 when closed as illustrated in Figure 10. Closure member 156 is pivotally mounted to flange 148 at 160 and is actuated by link 162 which is pivotally mounted to a side of the closure member at 164 and is also pivotally mounted to the female crushing jaw at 166. Closing of the crushing jaws by actuation of the foot treadle will open the closure member 156 under the actuating force transmitted through link 162 as illustrated in Figure 6. It should be noted from Figure 6 that as the crushing jaws are closed and the closure member opened the top fiat surface 92 of the female crushing jaw 88 will be approximately horizontal and will close off the bottom of chute thereby retaining an article such as disposed cup 167 in the chute as a previously disposed cup 169 is crushed between the jaws. As the jawsopen upon release of the foot treadle the cup is dislodged from plate 116 and fallsbelow into bin 40 while the presently disposed cup is no longer caught in the chute and falls between the opened jaws as illustrated in Figure 8. As the foot treadle is released the closure member 156 closes at the same time as the crushed cup falls into bin 40. To remove bin 40 from the disposal unit means are provided to hold the treadle in a locked lower position so as not to interfere with the opening of door 30. As illustrated in Figure 2 the dotted normal position of the treadle will prevent opening of the door. Mounted to front wall portion 20 is an L-shaped bracket 170. The treadle has guide flanges 172 and an overlying end 174. The servicernan depresses the treadle with his foot into the position illustrated in solid lines in Figure 2 and while the treadle and link 54 are in a depressed position rotates the treadle with the tip of his foot about pivot 46 causing the upper edge 176 of the treadle to be locked by L- shaped bracket as illustrated in Figure 11. Thereafter the treadle is locked in its lowered position and the door may be opened. A downward force on the treadle which may be applied by a persons foot will release the treadle from its locked position.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A crushing mechanism for a disposal unit, comprising a support bar, male and female crushing jaws pivotally mounted to said support bar, said male crushing jaw having a convex surface thereon, said female crushing jaw having a mating concave surface thereon, kicker means mounted on one of the crushing jaws to assist in dislodging crushed articles therefrom, said kicker means comprising a plate, a rod mounted to said plate, means mounting said rod and plate for sliding movement in said crushing jaw, spring means mounted on the rod biasing said plate against said jaw, and lever means mounted on the support bar coacting with said rod imparting movement to said plate to dislodge articles adhering to said plate.

2. A disposal unit comprising, a head portion, a recep tacle having crushing means, and a bottom portion having treadle actuating means, said crushing means comprising a support bar, crushing jaws pivotally mounted thereto, link means interconnecting said crushing jaws, spring means mounted on said link means biasing said jaws, a closure member pivotally mounted to said head portion, link means interconnecting said closure member with said crushing jaws, and means connecting said actuating means with said crushing means so that upon actuation the crushing jaws will close as the closure member opens.

3. A disposal unit comprising, a head portion, a receptacle supporting crushing means, and a bottom portion supporting treadle actuating means, said crushing means comprising a support bar, crushing jaws pivotally mounted thereto, link means interconnecting said crushing jaws, spring means mounted on said link means biasing said jaws to an open position, a closure member pivotally mounted to said head portion, link means interconnecting said closure member with a crushing jaw, and a chute mounted in said head portion, said crushing jaw having means to support an article disposed in said chute as the crushing jaws close.

4. A disposal unit comprising, a head portion, a receptacle having crushing means, and a bottom portion supporting treadle actuating means, said crushing means comprising a support bar, crushing jaws pivotally mounted to said support bar, link means interconnecting said crushing jaws, spring means mounted on said link means biasing said jaws into an inoperable position, a closure member pivotally mounted to said head portion, link means interconnecting said closure member with a crushing jaw, said crushing jaw supporting kicker means to prevent adherence of an article to said jaw, and means connecting said actuating means with said crushing means so that upon operation of the actuating means the crushing jaws will close as the closure member opens.

5. A disposal unit comprising, a head portion, a receptacle supporting crushing means, and a bottom portion having treadle actuating means, said crushing means comprising a support bar, crushing jaws pivotally mounted thereto, link means interconnecting said crushing jaws, biasing means mounted on said link means causing said jaws to open upon release of said actuating means, a closure member pivotally mounted to said head portion, means interconnecting said closure member with a crushing jaw, said crushing jaws comprising a male jaw with convex surfaces and grooves thereon and a female jaw with mating concave surfaces thereon, and means connecting said actuating means with said crushing means so that upon operation of the actuating means the crushing jaws will close as the closure members opens.

6. A disposal unit comprising, a head portion, a receptacle, crushing means mounted in said receptacle, a

bottom portion, treadle actuating means supported in said bottom portion, said crushing means comprising a support bar, crushing jaws pivotally mounted on said support bar, link means interconnecting said crushing jaws for simultaneous operation thereof, means mounted on said link means biasing said jaws to an open condition, a closure member pivotally mounted to said head portion, link means interconnecting said closure member with said crushing jaws, means connecting said actuating means with said crushing means so that upon operation of the actuating means the crushing jaws will close as the closure member opens, and locking means mounted on said bottom portion to lock said actuating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 336,298 Curley Feb. 16, 1886 703,518 Baumgarten July 1, 1902 1,077,437 Smith Nov. 4, 1913 2,354,349 Polsen et al. July 25, 1944 2,493,193 Hait Jan. 3, 1950 2,522,800 Quiroz Sept. 19, 1950 2,619,150 Smith Nov. 25, 1952 2,665,632 Kawa Jan. 12, 1954 2,760,497 Campbell Aug. 28, 1956 2,779,341 Smillie Jan. 29, 1957 2,862,443 Strong et al. Dec. 2, 1958 

